The island destination of Madeira has taken its sustainability credentials to new heights, with all three golfing venues embracing the tourist board’s long-term commitment to preserving the environment.
Clube de Golf Santo da Serra (pictured above) has become the latest club in the Portuguese islands to implement a new eco-strategy, following Palheiro Golf and Porto Santo Golf in making a series of course improvements to enhance the overall playing experience for members and guests.
Club de Golfe Santo da Serra’s improvement plan includes the installation of a new state-of-the-art irrigation system. This will reduce the water consumption by around 66 per cent.
The club has also renovated the four on-course lakes that it uses for irrigation,. The new interconnecting system between all of them will improve access to water so that all areas of the 27-hole layout can easily be watered whenever necessary.
Enhanced association with nature
Porto Santo Golfe recently strengthened its association with nature when the island that it is named after became a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Designed by Seve Ballesteros and host of the Madeira Islands Open in 2009 and 2011, the club is the perfect example of the harmony between human activity and wildlife. Dotted with lakes and natural habitats within the course, the northern route of the course is set atop fantastic cliffs and near the stunning Porto Santo beach. Diverse marine life thrives nearby, including the loggerhead sea turtle and the rarest seal in the world, the Mediterranean monk seal.
Palheiro Golf is also working hard to deliver increased sustainability in and around the golf course. As well as registering with the Golf Environment Organisation, the venue has dramatically reduced the carbon footprint of the course by using a black sand endemic to Madeira in all bunker. Future plans include the purchase of new golf-course maintenance machinery and updating its irrigation system.
The islands are located approximately 1,000km from the European mainland and 500km from the African continent. Thy therefore enjoy an amazingly mild climate, ranging from 25°c in the summer to 17°c in the winter. Very mild average temperatures and moderate humidity make for the perfect year-round destination for a golf break.Leading to golfers from the UK and across northern Europe heading to Madeira in increasing numbers.
The best way to enjoy the archipelago’s golf is with a Madeira Golf Passport which, providing holders with an unrivalled golf experience, is available to both individuals and groups and can be booked on a three or five-round basis.
Read more: Madeira All Year
